Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal

Abstract

An article of footwear has an upper having an elastic material and a heel cup. The heel cup is constructed of a uniformly molded flexible polymer material and an aperture at a rear, and the elastic material of the upper at the aperture facilitates securement of a user's foot upon stretching. An upper portion of the heel cup is concave relative to the front portion of the article of footwear and flexes downward and temporarily widens when donning the article of footwear. After foot insertion, the upper portion returns upward to surround a rear portion of a heel of the user's foot. A foam layer is positioned near a topmost region of the foot-receiving opening and extending into the opening and is compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion, and to facilitate the securement after donning.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A boot comprising:
 a sole extending from a front portion to a rear portion of the boot;   an upper comprising elastic material;   a heel cup comprising a uniformly molded flexible polymer material,
 the heel cup comprising an aperture at a rear of the heel cup, wherein the elastic material of the upper at the aperture is configured to facilitate securement of a user's foot within the boot upon stretching, 
 the heel cup comprising an upper portion attached to the upper, the upper portion being concave relative to the front portion of the boot in a plane of the sole and flexing downward upon application of downward force by the user's foot when donning the boot, temporarily widening a foot-receiving boot opening into which the user's foot is inserted, and returning upward to surround a rear portion of a heel of the user's foot to facilitate the securement of the user's foot within the boot after donning, 
 the heel cup comprising a lower portion; and 
   a foam layer positioned near a topmost region of the foot-receiving boot opening and extending into the boot opening, the foam layer configured to be compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion, and to facilitate the securement of the foot within the boot after donning.   
     
     
         2 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the heel cup comprises an angular strip connected to medial and lateral sides of the boot, the angular strip having a rearward incline toward the rear portion of the boot and providing increased rigidity in the area of the heel of the user's foot after the boot is donned. 
     
     
         3 . The boot of  claim 2 , wherein the angular strip has flexibility to curve from the medial and lateral sides to a rear of the heel portion of the boot, to be depressed downward and rearward from the foot receiving boot opening when the boot is being donned, and to return to an initial elevated position after the boot is donned. 
     
     
         4 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein the upper has an interior layer and an exterior layer, and the heel cup is an attachment at an outer surface of the exterior layer of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein fabric material covers the heel cup on an interior of the boot. 
     
     
         6 . The boot of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tongue having a front lower portion attached directly to the upper, and   elastic fabric pieces attached to the upper and configured to maintain positioning of the tongue when the user dons the boot.   
     
     
         7 . The boot of  claim 6  wherein lateral edges of the tongue are directly attached to an interior portion of the upper. 
     
     
         8 . The boot of  claim 1 , further comprising
 gore pieces configured to reduce a rearward pull of forward portions of the boot during donning, facilitating a wider opening of the foot-receiving boot opening when the user's foot is inserted.   
     
     
         9 . The boot of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a textile fitted to a surface of the foam layer that contacts the user's foot when the boot is being donned.   
     
     
         10 . The boot of  claim 9 , wherein the foam layer has sufficient thickness to facilitate the securement of the user's foot at an Achilles tendon around a calcaneus bone. 
     
     
         11 . The boot of  claim 9 , wherein the foam layer tapers along at least a portion of its vertical axis so that its volume is greater at an upper foam layer portion than at a lower foam layer portion. 
     
     
         12 . The boot of  claim 9 , wherein the foam layer tapers along its longitudinal axis so that its volume is greater at a mid-portion than at end portions. 
     
     
         13 . The boot of  claim 9 , wherein the textile comprises elastic textile having wicking properties. 
     
     
         14 . The boot of  claim 9 , wherein glue is used to adhere the foam layer to the heel cup. 
     
     
         15 . The boot of  claim 9 , wherein the foam layer is devoid of stitches or seams on its upper foam layer portion. 
     
     
         16 . The boot of  claim 15 , wherein the upper foam layer portion of the foam layer is rearwardly inclined to facilitate guiding the user's foot into the boot when donning the boot, to return to its initial elevated position when the user's foot has fully entered the boot. 
     
     
         17 . The boot of  claim 9 , wherein the foam layer is bonded to the inner surface of the heel cup to provide cushioning. 
     
     
         18 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein the boot is laced and comprises an eyestay layer providing structural support to the boot. 
     
     
         19 . The boot of  claim 1 . wherein the uniformly molded flexible polymer material comprises a thermoplastic. 
     
     
         20 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein the uniformly molded flexible polymer material comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
         21 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein the foam layer is comprised of at least one of EVA and polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         22 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of apertures separated by diagonal beams having at least two different widths. 
     
     
         23 . A boot comprising:
 a sole extending from a front portion to a rear portion of the boot;   an upper comprising elastic material;
 a compressible component formed of flexible thermoplastic material, the compressible component attached at an outer surface of the upper and curving from medial to lateral sides of the sole, wherein tension created by the elastic material of the upper below the compressible component, upon stretching, facilitates securement of a user's foot within the boot, 
 the compressible component flexing downward upon application of downward force by the user's foot when donning the boot, temporarily widening a foot-receiving boot opening into which the user's foot is inserted, and returning upward to surround a rear portion of a heel of the user's foot to facilitate the securement of the user's foot within the boot after donning; 
   a foam layer positioned near a topmost region of the foot-receiving boot opening and extending into the boot opening, the foam layer configured to be compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion, and to facilitate the securement of the foot within the boot after donning
 the foam layer tapering along its longitudinal axis so that its volume is greater at a mid-portion than at end portions; and 
   an elastic textile having wicking properties that is fitted to a surface of the foam layer that contacts the user's foot when the boot is being donned.